Game Review: Just Cause 4

Hello Enthusiasts,

There are a few video game series' that I have been a fan of for some years now. Mario, Splinter Cell, the Arkham games, just to name a few. One such series has been the Just Cause games by Square Enix, a fairly mindless series that I've enjoyed since the second game was released (after which I went back and played the original). So today, I will be reviewing the newest entry into this series, Just Cause 4. Is this the best game in the series? Read below with the knowledge that there may be some Spoilers Ahead.

Also, if you would like to refresh your memory regarding my thoughts about the previous title in this series, Just Cause 3, you can find that review at https://boredenthusiast.blogspot.com/2016/11/game-review-just-cause-3.html.

The very fact that I mentioned that there may be spoilers undermines everything that I love about this series, and it's a knock on this game that I cannot wait to mention. The forth installment in the series takes a lot of time going into the story of the game, something which none of the other games have done. This could be one of the worst moves possible, because these games have always been the video game equivalent of an over-the-top 80's action movie. The story has always been bare-bones so the player can get right to the action. But okay, maybe the team came up with a story that is so compelling and driven that we needed it, right?

The game follows our returning character, Rico Rodriguez, as he gets to another island, Solis, with another government that needs overthrowing. Armed with his grappling hook, endless parachute, and wingsuit, he attempts to overtake the weather-controlling weapon that has subdued the people of the island. Rico finds that he is severely overwhelmed and has to take down the government strategically rather than with a head on attack. To do this, he has to take down smaller stations and raise an "Army of Chaos". Sounds a lot like the previous games, but there are a few added twists. It turns out that Rico's father was one of the scientists who created this weapon, along with the uncle of one of Rico's  friends in the game, Mira. It also turns out that the mercenary group that has been plaguing Rico across some of his previous adventures, the Black Hand, is based out of this same island. The leader of the Black Hand, Oscar Espinosa, is the same person who controls the island, the weather machine, and was the person that had Rico's father killed. Also, it turns out the the Espinosa family has been working for generations to erase the rich history of the island, and one of the strong side stories is to uncover the true history of Solis, which may shed some negative light on the Espinosa family.
Also, The Agency (the government group that Rico worked for in the first two games) may have been behind some of this shady stuff, which brings Rico's old friend/enemy Sheldon back into the picture.

Look, it's a jumbled mess of a story that isn't as compelling as the short story of the third game (overthrow that dictator, who was the person that sold you to The Agency when you were a child).

Okay, so take out the story, what are the best parts of this game? Well, the diverse weather across the island is awesome, with twisters and sandstorms adding a lot of variety to the formula. The gunplay is as solid as it had been previously, with some new weapons added in to change things up. The game controls well overall and the environment is vast. There are also some fun additions to Rico's arsenal outside of new guns, such as balloons that can be used to lift up objects and added variety to some of the other gadgets that Rico has used in the past. There are some really fun side missions, both new as well as some that have carried over from prior entries. I personally have always loved the little side missions that don't take long, but add in some diversity to the game. And, of course, there are plenty of explosions to be had all over Solis, with more ways than ever to make things go "boom".

However, the story is not where my problems with this game ends. The graphics are a real downgrade from the third game, especially during the cutscenes. I mean, the characters in the cutscenes wouldn't look out of place in a PS2 game. Plus, several of these characters are wildly annoying, so having to hear them speak while they looked terrible was a bad experience all around. The driving feels kind of sloppy, more so than it had previously. Despite liking the addition of the balloons, I did not like the set up they had for the gadgets. Basically, you have to choose what your grapple does at any given time (it can connect things to reel together, it can add balloons, or it can add jet boosters to a surface). I feel like these would have worked better if they had all been mapped on the controller instead of having to choose what you're currently using, and to what extent. It was a good idea to add the variety, but it wasn't very well executed. I also wasn't a fan of the changes they made to Sheldon, who they basically just prettied up from the previous games.

There's also a problem that I can't seem to put my finger on the cause of, but it has to do with the overall feeling of the game. The third game felt so grand, everything felt so important and worthwhile, while this game just feels less important. I don't know, the stakes were still pretty high in the story of the game, but I just didn't feel as invested as I did during the third game.

So, how does this game compare with the others? I think it's mostly better than the first and second, but it falls short of the third game. It's not a terrible experience, but it was a disappointment after the third game blew me away the way that it did. The fact that I know this series can do so much better made me feel a lot worse about this game. There are better games that you can buy, including Just Cause 3, and I'm hoping that Just Cause 5 will continue the upward climb in quality that we were getting from this series prior to this entry.

I give Just Cause 4 a 5 out of 10.

Sincerely,

The Bored Enthusiast

Comic Book Review: All-Star Superman

Hello Enthusiasts,

For today's review I get to look at a nice, mostly self-contained story by one of the most prolific writers in comics. Not only that, but it's a story about the most famous superhero of all time, Superman! Today's review is of Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely's All-Star Superman. Of course, you can expect some big Spoilers Below.

It's a story that starts pretty standard for the Man of Steel. Some scientists got themselves stuck in the sun, and Superman is rescuing them. It shouldn't be a big deal, as Superman's powers are actually powered by the solar radiation that he absorbs from our yellow sun anyway, but that doesn't end up being the case. Superman has absorbed too much solar radiation, and the overwhelming power is going to be too much for his body.

Superman is going to die before too long.

What follows is a series of stories where Superman tries to make the best of the situation. While he is fast-approaching death, the energy that's killing his is also making him exponentially stronger. He is able to easily pull off feats that even he would have struggled to complete before his overexposure.
It's a story of Superman trying to leave the world in a position where it can survive without him around, while he also works to wrap up the loose ends of his personal life. It's the age-old dilemma of "what would you do if you knew you only had one week to live" with the added twist of "you can basically do anything".

I'll just come right out and say it, this series is, to me, the greatest Superman story ever told. I loved every page and every beat of the graphic novel. It is more light-hearted and optimistic than a lot of DC stories, but it fits Superman perfectly. This is a story about why we care about the mythology of Superman, about why he's an idealized version of what we can be. It's a heart-warming tale, and one that could have easily been a whole lot worse if not in the capable hands of Grant Morrison. It's simultaneously thought-provoking and a feel-good story in perfect balance. Plus, it is a visual treat thanks to the work of Frank Quitely, who's art matches the tone of the story flawlessly. Everything about this series is something else to rave about. It's an important addition to the Superman mythos on several levels, from furthering his relationship with Lois Lane to having him overcome a Herculean gauntlet of feats. It even makes Jimmy Olson okay, though I can't say that he's not annoying, but that's just his character.

I have nothing bad to say about this series. If you haven't read it, you are doing yourself a disservice. I don't care if you don't regularly read Superman stories, or if you normally prefer the darker tales. Go into this and read it for what it is, and even if it doesn't become your favorite comic book, I'm nearly certain that you'll still enjoy the time you spent with it.

I give All-Star Superman a 10 out of 10.

Sincerely,

The Bored Enthusiast

Game Review: Red Dead Redemption 2

Hello Enthusiasts,

Rockstar Games sure knows how to make a game that people get excited for. The company behind GTA isn't a one-trick pony, as they also have a series set in the old west. Today, we look at the newest entry into that series, Red Dead Redemption 2. Now, I don't do a lot of online gaming, so I am going to just be reviewing the single-player game. As always, there will be some Spoilers Below.

This game is a prequel to the previous title, Red Dead Redemption. In this game we play through the story as Arthur Morgan, an outlaw who runs with a gang led by Dutch Van Der Linde. The game picks up after a job that went very, very wrong, and the gang has fled from the law by traveling into a snowstorm on a mountain. This is where the tutorial takes place, as Arthur practices his hunting, horse riding, fighting, and shooting in order to keep the gang alive in this deadly wilderness. Eventually, everyone is able to leave the mountain and head to a more traditional old-west setting. From here the game does become more of an open-world game. I won't give away too much of the story, as it is far more compelling than I would have ever imagined it could be and I would hate to spoil it all. Just know that this is far from the weaker story-telling that can come from the single player campaign in GTA. I also loved that parts of the story were told from the perspective of Arthur's journal, as it added some additional back story and allowed us to see his character grow.

Let's take a look at the pros first. To start, this game is beautiful on just about every scale imaginable. The characters are incredibly lifelike, the landscape is vast and breathtaking, and the objects in the world are insanely detailed. Honestly, an alternate name for this game could have "Attention to Detail: The Game", as everything seems to have been thought of. Arthur's clothes will get dirty and muddy based on what he's been doing, the snow will get caught in his beard if you choose to grow one, and blood from wounds will stain his clothing. The detail doesn't stop with the visuals either, the sound in this game is phenomenally well done. The soundtrack is perfectly fit for a western, and the in-game dialogue is recorded in multiple ways to match what your character is doing (for example, the characters will yell if they are riding their horses with a bit of distance between each other versus if they are riding closer together). The sounds of nature are incredible too, with different animals having distinct sounds that can be identified without even seeing them. The actual gameplay is wonderfully executed as well, with outstanding gunplay, realistic movements, etc.

Long story short, if you are looking for a game that obviously had a lot of attention and care from the designers and developers, you found it here.

However, the game is not perfect. The biggest problem is the travel, as you are going to spend literal HOURS just riding your horse from location to location. I understand that there was a whole lot of effort put into the horse riding, and you will end up caring a lot about your main horse, but it ends up getting real monotonous. I feel like a better system would have been one like what some other games have done, where you have to ride to a location to discover it, but then make fast travel available. The game does offer a "Cinematic Mode" where you don't actually have to control the horse as you ride to your destination, but it takes just as much time, and you can't walk away or anything because you can still get attacked by bandits and the like while in this mode. My other issue is with the in-game money. I enjoyed this system at the beginning, as I would hunt and rob for a dollar or two (which is more than it sounds like in the old west), and slowly start to accumulate cash. I had to think about the things I would buy and how much work went into each cent. Then, around halfway through the game, one of the main story line missions basically eliminates the need to worry about your money and you can almost spend as you please. It wasn't a huge thing, but it did slightly impact my enjoyment of the game.

Basically, this game is awesome, though not entirely perfect. The main story is compelling, the side quests are fun, and you'll likely have a good time for a lot of hours. If you really aren't a fan of open-world games overall this is not for you, because it is very open world, but otherwise I think everyone can get something out of this title.

I give Red Dead Redemption 2 a 9.5 out of 10.

Sincerely,

The Bored Enthusiast

My top 20 Simpsons episodes

Hello Enthusiasts,

Anyone who knows me knows that I love The Simpsons. I've been watching the show for years and, even though the more recent seasons don't seem to capture the magic that the earlier years had, I still try to catch every episode. It's a show that has defined a generation's sense of humor and story-telling. But what episodes stand out as the best? That opinion certainly differs from person to person, as not every joke hits everyone the same. With that being said though, I have listed out my top twenty episodes below. Because of the number of episodes I'm listing, I'm going to limit how much I write for each of these to a sentence or two.

20. "Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala[Annoyed Grunt]cious"(S8, ep13)

This episode is a parody of the hit Disney classic "Mary Poppins", music and all. Most of the humor outside of the songs is good, but the songs are really what puts this one on the list. 

19. "Bart the General" (S1, ep5)

This episode shows Bart fighting back against the biggest bully at Springfield elementary, Nelson. This episode is a great parody of military films and coming-of-age movies, plus it introduces the character of Herman, the one-armed military surplus store owner. 

18. "Homer the Great"(S6, ep12)

This is an episode that likely wrote itself after coming up with the premise of Homer being the prophesied leader of a secret society. The jokes are awesome here, as is the song Stonecutters' song, "We Do". 

17. "The Way We Was" (S2, ep12)

The first origin story put out there about how Homer and Marge ended up getting together. Their meeting and eventually getting together is as funny as it ends up being sweet, with Homer being the pinnacle of a lovable idiot. 

16. "A Fish Called Selma"(S7, ep19)

 This is a Troy McClure based episode that is mostly on here for the Planet of the Apes play that is invented for the episode. The musical, titled, "Stop the Planet of the Apes, I Want to Get Off!", is a stroke of brilliance, even for this show. The episode is great from start to finish, but that musical really kicks it up to another level.

15. "Beyond Blunderdome" (S11, ep1)

 Mel Gibson releases a remake of Mr. Smith goes to Washington, Homer hates it, and they try to change it to be more appealing to the everyman. It's a great episode with a lot of Hollywood references (Mel Gibson, John Travolta, Adam West, Burt Ward, and Robert Downey Jr. to name just a few). 

14. "Deep Space Homer"(S5, ep15)

 "Homer in space" is enough of a selling card, but it only goes further when you have Buzz Aldrin as a guest star for the episode. Add in a timeless joke of Kent Brockman hailing our new ant overlords and you have an instant classic. 

13. "Homer The Moe" (S13, ep13)

 While it is a late episode, it's an enjoyable story where Moe tries to rediscover himself and Homer takes over the bar. Solid pacing and jokes, though it does drop off just a bit once Moe takes the bar back. 

12. "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?"(S2, ep15)

 If I was to quote all of the great lines from this episode it would be a whole post in itself. This is classic Simpsons with some if their best work, and it guest starred Danny DeVito as Homer's half-brother Herb!

11. "One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish, Blue Fish" (S2, ep11)

 This episode doesn't focus so much on the laughs, instead deciding to be heavy on the sentimentality. Most of the episode involves Homer thinking that he is dying and he tries to get as much done in his final day as he can. Every once in a while, the Simpsons will take a more serious turn like this and it often works very well. 

10. "Marge vs. the Monorail" (S4, ep12)

 The town gets conned into building a monorail after a big song and dance number. It's full of laughs, a cameo by Leonard Nimoy, and is said by many to be one of the best episodes ever. 

9. "The Mansion Family" (S11, ep12)

Mr. Burns has to go to the Mayo Clinic and leaves the Simpson family to watch his house. It's another episode that basically writes itself, and so many of the jokes land so perfectly that it has become a must-watch. 

8. "Homer's Enemy"(S8, ep23)

We find ourselves at another serious episode, but this one focuses on a new character: Frank Grimes. The episode is a statement about how some people can skate through life and do well while others have to work hard just to get by. 

7. "Kamp Krusty" (S4, ep1)

A parody of "Lord of the Flies", this episode sees Bart and Lisa go to a summer camp that is "run by" Krusty the Clown. It's funny on several levels and is one of the earliest episodes that really showcases how greedy and careless Krusty can be. 

6. "And Maggie Makes Three" (S6, ep13)

This is an episode that will tug at your heartstrings the first time you watch it, and maybe after that too. It's a story of sacrificing for your children and the last shot of the episode is a real kick in the stomach. 

5."Bart Gets an 'F'" (S2, ep1)

 It's an episode that we can all likely relate to, because we've all tried our best at something and still failed. It's an episode that does have some laughs as well as some emotions, and is still the most viewed episode on its premier night to-date. 

4.  "You Only Move Twice" (S8, ep2)

 Homer gets an offer for a job in a new city, and his new boss is a man named Hank Scorpio. It's one of the funniest episodes out there, and I wish Hank Scorpio was at least a rarely recurring character. 

3. "Lisa the Vegetarian" (S7, ep5)

This episode features a cameo by Paul McCartney, who refused be in the episode unless Lisa remained a vegetarian for the rest of the series. It's a funny episode, with a side-splitting educational video by Troy McClure. 

2. "Itchy & Scratchy & Marge" (S2, ep9)

 This episode is not only funny, but has some solid commentary about censorship in cartoons. The show doesn't really take a side either way, but it's a excellent entry regardless. 

1. "Itchy and Scratchy Land" (S6, ep4)

Alright, I know this isn't everyone's favorite and might not even crack most top 10's, but I love this episode. It's a parody of "West World" and a reflection of theme parks overall. I might have a bias as someone who had worked in theme parks for several years, but I still laugh at these jokes and this is a solid #1 for me. 

So those are my top 20 episodes. I didn't include any of the "Treehouse of Horror" episodes, because that would have eliminated a lot of the episodes that got on this list. I may end up doing a post about those episodes specifically in the future.

Anyway, did your favorite end up on the list? Do you disagree with any of these? Let me know!

Sincerely,

The Bored Enthusiast

Book Review - The Fold

Hello Enthusiasts,

I have really been enjoying the work of Peter Clines. You can see my review of the Ex-Hero series here, and his novel 14 was excellent (I still need to read Paradox Bound). So I picked up today's book, The Fold, excited to see where Clines would take us. Of course, as always, you can expect some Spoilers Below. 

The story follows our main character, Leland "Mike" Erikson, a man with perfect memory who has resigned himself to teaching English in Maine. This all changes when his old friend and DARPA official, Reggie, asks him to review a project. The project itself, called the Albuquerque Door, folds the space between two locations to allow someone to travel instantaneously. However, something seems to be wrong with the door, and the team of scientists that invented it refuse to tell anyone anything about how it works. As Mike is reviewing the project the problems only seem to get worse, and it seems that the world itself may be in danger if something isn't done.

There is a lot that works in this book. As always, Peter Clines doesn't treat his audience as if they're idiots. He's very good at not explaining everything right up front, allowing the reader to figure things out before filling them in on details. For example, he slowly introduces the idea that Mike has a flawless memory through small actions before outright stating it for the reader. It's also hinted as the story moves forward that this book is a tie in to 14, and it isn't until the end of the book that it is almost referenced outright. Most of the characters are pretty relatable as well, though the ones that aren't are obviously written that way intentionally. The book has a nice pace to it as well; it doesn't linger on anything for too long, but also isn't moving at a break-neck speed. The story of folding space may have been done before, but having it tie in with 14 adds a new element, and one that ends up making it all feel pretty fresh. I also feel that one of Peter Clines' greatest strengths in writing is his ability to take something complex and break it down in a way that isn't too difficult to understand. He could have easily made it more difficult for the reader to get an idea of how Mike's memory works, but he instead creates a visual of an ant colony that brings out different memories that can be stored or used whenever Mike needs them. I can't really do it justice here, but the way it's laid out in the story works very well.

While I like a lot about this book, there are a few drawback to this title. One of the problems was somewhat out of the writer's control, and that's having a character like Mike. It can be difficult to have a character like that and not have them come off as at least a little obnoxious. They remember everything and will often cut people off to finish their sentences, or will go into far too much detail about something that happened or someone they met to show off how good their memory is. Now, to his credit, Clines does lean into this and has other characters call Mike out about how annoying he is after they've already been impressed initially, but it can still be a little annoying for the reader. Also, I didn't feel like all of the characters were fleshed out enough. To reference 14 again, I felt in that story like I knew what each character would say in a situation and just a bit more about all of them. The characters here aren't all the same, but I really didn't get the sense that I knew them all too well. Now, that could very well be intentional as part of the twist of this story, which I won't spoil here, but it still felt like it took something away from the book.

Regardless of any negatives, I would recommend this book to friends, though not to the same level as some of Clines' other work. It's not his best, but it's still better than a lot of other stories out there. It has a lot going for it, just not as much as 14, and certainly not as much as the Ex-Hero series. So I say pick it up for a read, though you'll get more out of it if you do read 14 first.

I give Peter Clines' The Fold a 7.5 out of 10.

Sincerely,

The Bored Enthusiast

Book Review: The Martian

Hello Enthusiasts,

There are few things that I love as much as when you expect a book to be okay and get completely blown away with how good it is. This has happened to me a handful of times, and some of those instances have been reviews that I have posted on this very blog. Today, I get to add another one to that list as I review the Andy Weir novel The Martian. Now if you haven't read the book or seen the movie, I give you full warning that there will be some Spoilers Below.

The book follows astronaut Mark Watney, who is stranded by his crew on Mars as they are evacuating the planet. The crew leaves him there due to some very compelling evidence that he is killed during a sandstorm. However, Mark lived through the ordeal and made it back to the crew's base on Mars. Now he has to figure out how to survive until the next mission in four years, or communicate with Earth. It will take every skill he has to live in a world that constantly seems to be fighting against him.

So a lot of this story is told from the perspective of Mark's journal on Mars. He writes what's happening here in part as a way to keep his sanity, though he says that it's because he wants there to be something to find if he dies. There are a few areas that break from this format, mostly when the audience is brought back to NASA to read about the people on Earth working on a solution to bring Mark hime. The journal style of telling the story is great in terms of the exposition, because it makes sense that Mark has to explain all of the science around what he's doing. Trust me when I say you'll likely need the explanations for some of this, as there is a lot of science in this book. Mark was both the repairman and the botanist for the mission, so he has to use this knowledge and resources at his disposal in order to survive.

There is a lot to love about this book. While the story takes place a bit in the future, none of the science is unbelievable. The author takes the time to go into detail about why this technology works, why it's included on the missions, what the backup systems are, everything that could really cause a plothole. Because so much is explained so thoroughly, I was able to give a pass to the jumps in technology and the idea that NASA would have a large enough budget to allow so much innovation in space travel. Mark is also a very likable character; he's very smart about a few subjects, but he's not flawless. He makes mistakes despite his best intentions and plans. Mark is also incredibly relatable; he likes to make jokes, he loses his temper, he panics, he gets cocky, etc. Really, all of the characters are well-developed and none of them are written as an antagonist or anything. Even the characters at NASA that don't agree with the plan that is chosen to save Mark have good, legitimate reasons for what they do. Nobody is a villain, it's very much a "man vs. nature" story.

There isn't too much to complain about with this book. One of my only issues with this book was that so much of the story was told in from the perspective of journal entries. Even though it was still an awesome read and I like this form of story telling, it did make the story a little less suspenseful, as I knew he Mark was obviously okay since he was writing another entry. The book does try to work around that a little, since the journal is being recorded with the idea that it's there in case Mark doesn't survive. The only other thing I wanted from this book would have been an epilogue, as the story just ends once the problems are all resolved. I think this is the only thing that the movie did better than the book.

This is overall a great book for anyone looking a for hard-science fiction. Everything seems believable and, despite all of the science, it's an easy book to knock out over the course of a couple of days. It may not be for everyone, especially those who are looking for a story with a villain or those who just aren't fans of science fiction. With that being said, if you're not opposed to the very idea of this book, it's a solid recommend for me.

I give The Martian a 9 out of 10.

Sincerely,

The Bored Enthusiast

5 Podcasts to Listen to

Hello Enthusiasts,

I spend a whole lot of time driving for my job, and the radio can't always be trusted to have anything good. It was with this mindset that I dove into the world of podcasts to find some that I may enjoy. I have found some that do not suit me at all, and others that become a highlight within the week for me. With that being said, I wanted to share my findings with you all, so below you will find my 5 podcast recommendations. These aren't necessarily the top 5 podcasts out there, just ones that I enjoy most out of what I've listened to thus far.

1. Myths and Legends

This is a podcast that tells some unknown stories of lore, and some well known ones that time forgot some of the details to. The stories are narrated by Jason Weiser, who has a relatable manner of speaking and isn't just reading the text. Instead, he has the characters of the tales speak as people today would in order to add some humor to the story and to reduce any confusion the listener may have. He does a great job of explaining back story and sometimes will go into what had been happening in the real world during the timeframe the story is set in. Now, admittedly, I am still fairly new to this series, so I haven't listened to the majority of it yet. However, everything I have heard is a  great listen, and I always love to learn more about these myths and legends.

2. Do Go On

Three Australian comedians, Dave Warneke, Jess Perkins, and Matt Stewart, present a different topic each week to each other and the listeners. They take turns in presenting these topics each week, and  the other two are unaware of what the topic is before the start of the show. Previous topics have included The Simpsons, the Challenger explosion, The History of Pantera, and the Mad Gasser of Mattoon. Their reports will often get off topic as the other two chime in, but it always gets brought back to the topic at some point so they can finish the report they put together. This is, hands down, my favorite podcast every week. I find myself laughing at every episode during the sidetracks, but I always come away with some new knowledge on the topic of the week. Some of the topics are things I am already familiar with, others are completely new to me when I start listening. The crew will also bring in guest reporters from time to time, which is always fun to listen to since these guests usually report on a topic that they are already passionate about. I cannot recommend this podcast enough, especially to those who enjoy taking a little longer to get through the story.

3. SinCast

Brought to you by the folks over at Cinemasins and Music Video Sins, this podcast involves these folks discussing movies in their own ways. This involves praise, nitpicking, ranting, and joking about both well-known and lesser known flicks. They will sometimes bring on special guests to discuss movies as well, and they are currently doing a "road trip" series, which involves choosing a state within the U.S. and discussing a bunch of movies set mostly or wholly in that state. I am really enjoying the road trip episodes, because it allows them to go over a ton of films in a short period of time. Some of them I'm familiar with, others I'm not, but it's always fun to hear what they have to say. I may not always agree with them, but that's entertainment, nothing is made for everyone. Still though, I recommend it for a listen, especially if you're already a fan of their Youtube channels.

4. The Weekly Planet

Are you looking for some red-hot comic book movie news shooting up your butthole? Well, the boys at the Weekly Planet will do their best to fill that need. James Clement (A.K.A Mr. Sunday Movies) and Nick Mason (A.K.A the #1 party boy) discuss movies and comics and T.V shows every week. They review the latest news in these worlds before moving onto a topic for the week. This might be a discussion on a new movie in the theater, a discussion about the history of a franchise, a list of different ultimatums that they can decide on, etc. They also take some time each episode for a segment on what they're reading/watching/playing called "What are we reading, what are we gonna read?", as well as a segment where they respond to some correspondence from their listeners called "Letters". The whole show is a great time every week, as these two Aussie boys are hilarious in their observations and story telling. Mason will often have recurring characters that he will act out for a moment or two, and James will have a segment every once in a while called "H8 mail but the hate has an 8 in it", which involves him reading incredibly negative comments that they have received. This podcast is a strong recommend from me, it was the first podcast that I really latched onto and it remains one of my favorites.

5. Wolverine: The Long Night

This podcast is a serial style story about a series of strange deaths in the small town of Burns, Alaska. Two special agents, Sally Pirece and Tod Marshall, are sent out to find out what's happening to these people. Along the way they discover a cult that is obsessed with the long night, and who partake in some questionable practices. All of this would be cool enough, but this story also features everyone's favorite loner-Canadian-mutant, Wolverine. Now I have currently only listened to the first three episodes of this story, none of which feature Wolverine heavily, though he is mentioned a several times and is a par t of the investigation. Still, the story is interesting and well executed, and this is the first scripted podcast from the folks at Marvel, so I am definitely going to keep listening.

So those are my recommends for podcasts. Do you have some of your own? Leave me a comment below!

Sincerely,

The Bored Enthusiast